A major benefactor and a former MAGNT director have voiced their support for a new bill that will separate the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT (MAGNT) from the government.

Minister for Arts and Museums Matt Conlan says the new bill, introduced into parliament earlier this month, will establish the MAGNT as an independent Statutory Authority.

At present, MAGNT is part of the Department of Arts and Museums.

Mr Conlan says the new structure will mean greater opportunity for philanthropic donations and corporate sponsorship.

Former Director of MAGNT, Anna Malgorzewicz agrees.

Ms Malgorzewicz headed up the institution for a decade and says raising funds was a challenge.

"Organisations and benefactors are not necessarily inclined to fund a government instrumentality," she says.

"So certainly future fiscal opportunities will be vastly improved when it does become a statutory authority...there's a raft of programs and opportunities that being financially independent will provide."

However she says there may be some concerns going forward because of current staffing levels.

"I understand that there is an element of caution at MAGNT because over the years resourcing has reduced and staffing has reduced so I think there may be an element of concern about the organisational capacity to stand on it's own two feet."

"But having fiscal independence means that certainly there are now avenues for raising funds to employ additional curatorial staff or research staff or offer scholarships."

Current MAGNT director Pierre Arpin says the introduction of the bill will bring them into line with many cultural institutions around Australia.

"The board will have responsibility for the management of MAGNT and for ensuring that it secures expanded sources of revenue from the corporate and private sector," he says.

"Business and other stakeholders will be able to directly engage and conduct business with MAGNT, thereby reducing red tape."

MAGNT benefactor and former Chair of the Board, Colin Mcdonald says the change is a positive move for an institution that is currently 'little more than a shed'.

"MAGNT was a dynamic body that punched above its weight at a national level," he says.

"It's now at its most dismal depths so I welcome the government's initiative to restore a community based, independent statutory authority.

"The new board can be responsible to the minister and develop a dynamic collection [and] creative, imaginative exhibitions that inspire our young people and act as a powerful tourist attraction."

The ABC understands there are currently five curators at MAGNT, and no curator of Aboriginal Art or South-East Asian art.

A recruitment process is underway for a curator of Territory History and a curator of Rock Art.

"In my day, there [were curators] for Australian art, Aboriginal art, South-East Asian art, Oceanic art, a curator of history, and a range of scientific curatorial positions which are now running at about half," says Mr McDonald.

"I hope all the curatorial positions will be filled under the new management board, and we have collections that become living collections again."

Mr McDonald says the composition of the new board will be vital.

"I think it's very important for the minister to select a board that is committed to the community interest that can work collegially, and has a long term curatorial experience and a connection with the region and our Aboriginal Territorians."